(November 28, 1937, 3:00 p.m.)

Comrade Gao Gang:¹

1. Since the two bandits Zhang and Fan² are entrenched in fortified villages,
there must be careful surveillance and a carefully thought-out and detailed plan in
order to take the fortified villages by storm. In addition, there must also be a close
watch over the enemy both in as well as outside of the fortified villages. You must
not be careless.
2. Please find out immediately and inform us in detail regarding the following:
how strong the fortified villages are, the number of troops and fortifications in the
hands of the bandits, the supply of food, hay, fuel, and water of the bandits, the
conditions of the masses, and the possible assistance of the bandits from the outside.
3. Does the 27th Army have mortars? How is your firepower if you are going to
storm the fortifications? Do not act until you have a real guarantee of success.

Mao [Zedong] Xiao [Jingguang]

Our source for this text is Mao Zedong junshi wenji, Vol. 2, pp. 124-25, where it is reproduced from a copy in the Central Archives.
1. Regarding Gao Gang (1905-1954), a native of Shaanxi, see Volume V, p. 712, n. 4.
He was at this time commander at the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army for the
Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region in Bao'an.
2. Zhang Tingfa and Fan Yushan were the leaders of a bandit gang established in northern Shaanxi.